Migratory locusts feeding on crops in New South Wales during mid-November 2008.
Fresh swarms of maturing locusts are sweeping across parts of Australia’s state of New South Wales (NSW) as many farmers are preparing for harvest.
About a dozen swarms, one nearly 4 miles long and more than 500 feet wide (6 kilometres by 170 metres), have been spotted in the south and west of the state.
The government has placed nine planes on stand-by to treat the insects if the swarms grow larger or thicker.
Agriculture officials say it is fortunate many of the crops have turned yellow before harvest as the ravenous insects prefer to feed on green plants.
"More swarms are expected over the coming weeks, but fortunately we do not expect swarms on the scale of the 2004 outbreak," NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said.